This Slow Cooker Chicken and Sweet Potato Stew is a hearty, comforting, freezer-friendly dish that practically cooks itself. Bone-in chicken thighs, veggies, sweet potatoes, and warm spices cook into a rich, smoky-sweet one-pot meal.

Recipe at a glance (TL;DR)
- Prep time: 10 min
- Cook time: 6-8 hours on low
- Main Ingredients: chicken thighs, sweet potatoes, diced tomatoes, cream-style corn
- Servings: 6
- Best for: Busy weeknights, hands off cooking
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💡 Why I love this recipe
This is one of those dishes that created itself. I was determined to make dinner using what I had on hand. In this case, that meant sweet potatoes, bone-in chicken thighs, and a can of cream-style corn.
I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but I added some smoked paprika and fire-roasted tomatoes to balance the sweetness. While it was cooking, the house smelled so good that everyone kept asking if it was time to eat yet. The result was an amazing combo of juicy chicken and sweet potatoes that soaked up the mellow, sweet-smoky sauce.
Now it is a regular part of my dinner rotation. My heartier eaters like it served over rice. My lighter eaters prefer it just as it is. I like it with some sourdough bread for dipping!
Ingredient shopping list
This is a list of the ingredients you'll need to make this chicken stew recipe. For quantities and full preparation instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of this page.

Protein
- Bone-in, skinless chicken thighs
Produce
- Sweet Potatoes- cut into bite-sized pieces
- Carrots - cut into coins
- Celery - chopped
- Yellow Onion - chopped
- Garlic - minced
Canned & Packaged Goods
- Fire-roasted diced tomatoes
- Cream-style corn
- Chicken broth
- Tomato paste
Pantry Items
- Worcestershire sauce
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Smoked paprika
- Salt and black pepper
- Potato starch (optional for thickening)
Why you will love your slow cooker for this recipe
- One-pot wonder: All the great ingredients cook together right in your slow cooker. No extra bowls or other pots to clean.
- Hands-free cooking: Just add everything and let your slow cooker do the work.
- Tender results: Bone-in chicken thighs turn juicy and fall-apart tender without drying out.
- Great leftovers: This stew reheats beautifully and thickens slightly as it sits.
🎥Watch how to make it
Preparing your slow cooker
- Coat your slow cooker with a non-stick spray or oil before cooking
- Oil works better than spray for some non-stick surfaces (check your slow cooker's manual)
- Olive oil and avocado oil are my go-to oils for coating.
You can also use a slow cooker liner for even easier clean-up.
Step-by-step instructions

Place chicken into a greased slow cooker

Add in remaining ingredients and stir to combine. Cover and cook.

After cooking, add a slurry of potato starch and water to thicken the stew (optional)

When the desired thickness is achieved, serve and enjoy.
Serving suggestions
This meal is perfect just as it is. You really don't need anything more than a spoon. But you can serve it:
- Alongside crusty bread. To soak up all the smoky, sweet, tomato-y broth.
- Spooned over rice, riced cauliflower, mashed potatoes, quinoa, or farro to make an extra filling meal.
- Next to a crisp garden salad.
- Topped with sliced green onions, chopped parsley, and/or a dollop of sour cream or Greek yogurt.

Substitution and variations
- Bone-in thighs add great flavor, but boneless skinless thighs or breasts can be used, too. If you cook with breasts, shred the breast meat and stir it back in before serving.
- Swap sweet potatoes with butternut squash for an equally delicious meal
- Switch out smoked paprika with regular paprika for a more subtle smoky flavor
- No potato starch on hand? Use corn starch in its place. Add cornstarch slurry about 30 minutes before serving so it can heat up and thicken properly.
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Storing
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 4 months.
Allow frozen leftovers to thaw overnight in the refrigerator before gently reheating.
A note about slow-cooked chicken
Chicken in the slow cooker can be tricky. Bone-in, skinless thighs are more forgiving than other chicken parts. They stay juicy and tender during longer cooking times. This makes them well-suited for this type of stew.
Boneless thighs work well. Chicken breasts can be used too; they just need to be watched a little more closely to avoid drying out. Using a meat thermometer is the best way to ensure a tender, juicy result.
Expert Tips from my kitchen
- Use a meat thermometer to confirm crockpot chicken is cooked through. Chicken is considered safe to eat when it reaches an internal temperature of 165 ℉.
- This stew can be served with the bone-in chicken pieces right in the bowl. They become so tender they will practically fall apart on their own. If you prefer, you can remove the bones and shred the meat back into the stew.
- This is a great prep-ahead meal. All ingredients can be combined and stored overnight in the refrigerator. Just pop the mixture into your slow cooker when you are ready.
- The perfect way to store leftovers of this slow cooker recipe is in individual serving-sized containers. This makes for easy grab-and-go meals on busy nights.
- In the market for a new slow cooker? I love mine!
- Always double-check to make sure your slow cooker is on and plugged in!!! Coming home to a cold slow cooker is the worst!
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Chicken breasts are leaner and can dry out more easily than thighs. Shred them and stir them back into the stew before serving. This will ensure each bite is flavorful and moist.
Yes, as long as you use a gluten-free Worcestershire sauce and potato starch.
It's not recommended to use frozen chicken in a slow cooker due to food safety concerns. Always thaw chicken fully before cooking.
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📖 Recipe
Slow Cooker Chicken and Sweet Potato Stew
(Click on the stars to leave a rating)
Print Pin Rate SaveAll nutrition information shown here is automatically generated and should be considered an estimate. If you follow a specific diet, please calculate your own values to ensure accuracy.
Equipment
- cutting board and knife
Ingredients
- 4-6 bone-in, skinless chicken thighs
- 2 large sweet potatoes cut into bite-sized chunks
- 2 15oz cans fire-roasted tomatoes with all liquid
- 14.75 oz can cream-style corn
- 3 large carrots cut into thick coins
- 2 stalks celery diced
- 1 small onion diced
- 1½ tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 tsp smoked paprika traditional paprika can be used if you prefer that flavor.
- 3 cups chicken broth
- salt and pepper to taste
- potato starch optional to thicken
Instructions
- Place 4-6 bone-in, skinless chicken thighs into the bottom of a greased slow cooker.
- Add 2 large sweet potatoes, 2 15oz cans fire-roasted tomatoes, 14.75 oz can cream-style corn, 3 large carrots , 2 stalks celery, 1 small onion, 1½ tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, 1 tablespoon tomato paste, 1 tablespoon garlic, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, and 3 cups chicken broth
- Stir to combine, then cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours.
- Stew is ready to serve when all potato pieces can be easily pierced with a fork and chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165℉
- Add salt and pepper to taste, if needed
- Optional: To thicken, make a potato starch slurry by stirring 1 tablespoon of potato starch with 2 tablespoon cold water. Pour slurry into hot slow cooker and stir to combine. You should see it start to thicken within 30 seconds or so. This can be doubled if you prefer it extra thick.
- Bone-in chicken pieces can be served whole in the stew. They will natually start to fall apart as you stir/serve. No need to remove or shred them.
Final Step
If you love this recipe, please let everyone know by giving it a star rating and leaving a comment. This will help my business to grow and allow me to keep on testing and sharing free recipes with you.😊
Video
Notes
Nutrition
All nutrition information shown here is automatically generated and should be considered an estimate. If you follow a specific diet, please calculate your own values to ensure accuracy.
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Bess says
Just made this. Can't wait to make it again. Delicious
Susan says
So glad to hear you enjoyed it! Thank you for taking the time to come back and share!